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Pheidologeton affinis
Queensland, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

Worker polymorphism in the marauder ant Pheidologeton affinis.  Pictured here is a single supermajor worker, two major workers, and lots of minor workers.  These ants are all sisters and are essentially genetically identical, their different morphologies a result of developmental plasticity.  The degree of polymorphism in Pheidologeton is one of the largest among ant species.

 
Australia, QLD: 2.5km E Rossville
27.viii.2004  15º45.277'S 145º17.340'E, 180m
Rainforest edge.
#AW2554, voucher specimens deposited at ALWC

This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.